Samantha, however, struggled to recovery and ate next to nothing. By the third day, Joshua thought he might have to take her to the doctor. He wasn’t sure what they could do, but he was concerned, and wanted a specialist to look at her.
Joshua hurried to finish cutting the last of the wood pieces with the battery-powered saw blade. If they were cut today they could rest more into their shape for building purposes tomorrow. Although Joshua had intended to pick up Andrew from school and head straight to the doctor's office, he had been delayed working on this particular project. At this rate, Andrew would be home soon, and then they could leave to see the doctor.
I’ll need to get Bob hooked to the buggy and bring him close to the haus, Joshua thought. That way Samantha won't have to walk far. Maybe I should carry her. Is it alright to pick up a pregnant woman? Will that harm the bobli? I don’t know.
What if Samantha has problems because of this illness, like Jessica did? Joshua worried. I should have taken her sooner. What if—Lost in his thoughts, Joshua saw the saw blade coming down onto his hand too late. He pulled back on the saw blade just as he felt a terrible pain run across his hand and thumb.
Ach, nee! Joshua cried out.
Wrapping his right hand around his left, Joshua grimaced as blood seeped between his fingers. Now he needed to get to the hospital.
How could I have been so careless? Joshua wondered. He was angry with himself. And worried about his family, who needed him now more than ever, and now he's injured. Badly.
“Daed!” Andrew called from the door.
Joshua, bent over his hand, looked over his shoulder, relieved to see his son. “Andrew,” Joshua huffed. He was trying to keep the panic out of his voice. “I need you to get the horse hooked up to the buggy.”
“Sure, Daed, but what’s wrong?” Andrew asked. He started to move around.
Joshua knew he couldn’t hide his hand for too long, but he tried to shield Andrew from seeing it just yet.
“Andrew, Daed is hurt and I need to go to the hospital right away. Can you run inside and tell Melissa and Samantha, and get the horse and buggy hooked up?”
Just as Joshua finished speaking, Andrew’s eyes suddenly dropped to the ground, and he yelled out. Joshua glanced down to see the blood from his hand dripping down.
“Daed!” Andrew cried. He started to rush over, and then stopped. “I’ll get Samantha!” He rushed out.
Gut boy, Joshua thought. He looked around for his first aid kit – a piece of wisdom passed down in the Woods family for as long as they had done carpentry. Joshua awkwardly fished around for gauze to hold to his wound. Gott, this is the last thing my shtamm needs right now. Please, help me.
* * *
Samantha was so weak and ill that morning that when Joshua had told her she needed to see a doctor, she actually looked forward to it. It was less for herself and more for the baby – Samantha was terrified that the baby was going to be harmed by her illness. The fact that Joshua’s first wife and baby had died from problems caused by sickness made her even more frightened.
Towards the end of the day, however, at long last, Samantha started to feel better. She had to attribute some of her relief to Melissa. After recovering herself, Melissa had become a dear little helper to Samantha, always getting her water or dipping washcloths into water to soothe her hot forehead, and even very carefully adding wood logs to the fireplace. She always tucked Samantha’s blankets in and Samantha had woken up once to find that Melissa had put her dolly into Samantha’s arms.
Such a dear girl, Samantha thought. She was finally able to sit up and was eating a little soup. It was the first food she’d had in days, and she was glad for it.
“Danke for your help, Melissa,” Samantha said. “You’ve been such a blessing to me.”
Melissa beamed up at Samantha. “How do—” she started to ask.
The front door swung open violently, and Samantha jumped in her seat. Andrew came rushing in– his face looked pale, and his straw hat was missing from his head.
“Samantha!” Andrew exclaimed. “Daed’s hurt!”
“What? What happened?” Samantha asked. She hurried up to her feet, struggling between her heavy belly and feeling weak from the sickness. Then dizziness hit, and Samantha clung to the armchair nearby, waiting for the faint-feeling to leave her.
“I don’t know, but there’s a lot of blood!” Andrew started to tear up. “Daed said I need to get the horse and buggy hooked up!”
Ach, this can’t be gut, Samantha thought. “Andrew, I want you to be very careful,” she said. “Let me know if you need help with Bob, okay?”
“Jah,” Andrew said. He rushed back out the door.
“Melissa, dear, would you get me some towels from the linen closet?” Samantha asked.
“Okay,” Melissa said. She hurried upstairs.
Samantha went to find the money box tucked in a corner in the kitchen. She took everything in the box, and then gathered up the few non-perishable food items she could, dumping some dried fruits and nuts into a burlap bag. Quickly glancing at the mirror, Samantha did her best to make herself presentable. She knew she hadn’t washed in a few days, but it just didn’t matter. Snatching her prayer kapp and pins from off the coffee table nearby, Samantha quickly did up her hair. Melissa brought the towels to her and they headed out of the house.
Andrew was still trying to get Bob, the horse, hooked to the buggy, but he’d done a fine job getting the horse to stand in front of the buggy. Samantha hurried into the workshop.
Joshua was floundering at the table with a large piece of gauze, wrapping it around his left hand. Blood stained the floor right beside the saw blade table and as Samantha came closer she could see it on his jean overalls and white shirt.
“Joshua?” Samantha said.
“I’m sorry.” Joshua's words came out in a hiss between his teeth, and Samantha knew it had to be bad from the way he only half-turned towards her.
Samantha came around with the towels and felt her stomach flip-flop. Joshua had cut his left hand, and while he’d wrapped it in a lot of gauze, it was bleeding through profusely. Samantha took a towel and wrapped it around his hand.
“Can you walk?” Samantha asked.
“Jah,” Joshua said. He looked down at her face, his hair moist with sweat. “Are you okay?”
Samantha wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Her husband was bleeding so profusely he could die from the wound, and yet he was more worried about her health. “I’ll be fine, I was just up and eating a little soup.” Samantha figured that might encourage Joshua. Joshua gave a relieved sigh, and Samantha led him out of the workshop and to the buggy. Andrew and Melissa, who had just finished getting the harness hooked up, stared up at their Daed worriedly, eyeing the towels wrapped around his left hand.
“I’m fine,” Joshua said to the children.
“Would you help your daed up?” Samantha asked Andrew. “I’m still too weak.”
“Jah,” Andrew hopped up and helped Joshua hoist himself into the buggy. Samantha had Melissa join them as she inspected the harness, and then she struggled to climb into the buggy. To her surprise, and gladness, Andrew helped her up as well.
“Danke, Andrew,” Samantha said. She took the reins and hurried Bob on down the road. “You both did a gut job,” she said.“That was very gut teamwork. Danke for doing exactly as we asked.” Samantha wasn’t sure what else she said, but she talked the entire way to the hospital, encouraging the children and keeping an eye on Joshua. He kept his head up and his eyes open, but Samantha could tell he was in immense pain by the sweat dripping down his head.
Gott, Samantha prayed the entire time, please help Joshua.
* * *
It took eighteen stitches to completely close up Joshua’s hand. It was recommended that he not use his hand for three weeks. And the doctor who inspected Samantha had ordered her to bed rest for at least a week, maybe more depending if she had any more dizzy spells as a result of the hypotension.
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“You just need to take it very easy for these last few weeks of your pregnancy,” the doctor had said to Samantha. “After getting sick, you could be more susceptible to dizziness for a while. Make sure that you get plenty of fluids, rest, and make sure you’re getting enough iron.”
Samantha nodded. “I will.”
Were it not for their family and community, however, Joshua and Samantha might have been more concerned about the fact that both of them were out of commission. As it was, they had meals brought to them daily for a solid week, and both Samantha’s parents and Joshua’s mamm came over on alternating days to assist as they could with chores.
Samantha couldn’t imagine trying to get through all of this without their family and friends, and she thanked everyone as often as she could. The children were especially helpful with Andrew staying home for the week Samantha was on bed rest. He wanted to stay home until his Daed was completely better, but Joshua assured him that wasn’t necessary.
“I’m fine, just need to rest a little bit,” Joshua said. “No work for me for a while, that’s all.”
While this soothed Andrew, this was also a point of discussion for Joshua and Samantha. When the children had gone to sleep one night, Joshua sat beside Samantha on the couch, the hospital bills in his hands.
“I’m very sorry—” Joshua started to say.
“—Stop,” Samantha said. This wasn’t the first time Joshua had apologized for the wound on his hand. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“But I don’t know how we’re going to pay for this and keep eating until I recover,” Joshua said. “I mean, we have food from family and friends now, but for how long?”
Samantha reached out and took Joshua’s right hand. “Joshua. We have enough in savings from my teaching income. Remember?”
Joshua sighed. “Jah. I guess I didn’t want to use it.”
Samantha laughed. “But that’s what an emergency fund is for! Emergencies!”
“I’m just afraid that there will be another emergency,” Joshua said.
“I know. But we could go on with ‘what ifs’ until we go insane,” Samantha said. “Trust me, I’ve had a few of them myself, but they’re pointless.”
“You’re right,” Joshua said. He rested his head over hers. “I just feel as if I’m letting our shtamm down.”
“You’re not letting us down at all,” Samantha said. “Accidents happen, and right now you need to focus on recovering. It’s okay. Gott will provide for us. He always does.”
“Jah,” Joshua said. He kissed Samantha on the forehead. “I’m just glad you did teach for a little while.”
Smiling, Samantha nodded. “Me too.” There was a pause as they looked out over the darkening horizon as the sun set.“You know, if digging into the emergency fund to pay these bills in full right now worries you, we could ask to set up a repayment plan until you’re back to using your hand again – and making money.”
Joshua nodded. “That's a gut idea,” he said. “That way I’m back to making an income before we deplete the emergency fund, and at that point I know we can refund it quickly.”
“Then we’ll talk with the hospital about a repayment plan,” Samantha said. “Everything will be just fine.”
“Danke, Samantha,” Joshua said. He leaned his head back against hers again. “I’m so glad I have you.”
“And I’m glad I have you.”
It was going to work out. Gott had already given them a boost with the emergency fund and the wonderful family and community that they had. They were going to be fine.
Danke, Gott, for Your provision, and for helping us through the illness and injury, Samantha prayed. Please help us to remain strong, and to recover.
* * *
Joshua examined the unfinished pieces in his workshop, pondering what, if anything, he could do with his good hand. Suddenly he heard his shveshtah Mary’s voice calling his name. Surprised, he turned to see her walk through the doors.
“Hello there! Samantha said she thought you’d be out here.”
Joshua gave Mary a smile and hugged her. “And where is little Ezra?” he asked.
“Mamm is watching him right now,” Mary said. “I brought some food over and dropped it off at the house. I wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Danke, Mary,” Joshua said.
Mary paused as she observed him. “So how are you doing?” she asked.
Joshua sighed and sat on his carpenter’s stool. “Honestly? I don’t know.”
Mary took a seat in one of the small chairs nearby. The chair hadn’t worked out for a customer years ago, and had become the seat people took when they wanted to visit in the workshop with Joshua. “What do you mean?” Mary asked.
Joshua looked down at his large, calloused hands. “I don’t know what Gott’s doing,” he said. “Why is this happening?”
“You mean your hand?” Mary asked.
“And the flu, and Samantha’s hypotension,” Joshua said. “One mistake and a quick doctor’s check, and we’re buried in bills and I can’t even provide for my shtamm. The bobli hasn’t even come, and I feel overwhelmed. And I’m worried about Samantha. After losing Jessica and her baby….” Joshua put his face into his hands. “I want to trust Gott, but I feel like He is testing me. Or maybe disciplining me. Have I failed?”
Mary reached out and put her hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “Joshua, you’ve been through a lot, and I’m not sure I can understand it fully. I can’t imagine your pain. But I do know that even when we don’t understand it, Gott is still dependable and steadfast. He remains in control. You know the book of Job.”
Joshua nodded. “Jah, and he faced worse than I,” he admitted.
“I don’t think the point of those Scriptures is to compare,” Mary said. “But it does remind us that we never know the full story behind what’s going on in our lives. Gott is in control, including in the background, working things we don’t understand, and might not until we pass from this world to the next. He allows the gut and the bad in our lives to work many things. Sometimes it’s for discipline, yes, but sometimes it’s for testing, and sometimes it’s not even for us but for the sake of others that we endure trials.” Mary gestured to Joshua. “You can fully sympathize with another widow or widower. I cannot.”
“Jah,” Joshua said quietly. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “All I want is for a complete shtamm again and that I can be a gut provider for them. Is that wrong?”
“Nee,” Mary said. “Don’t think of it as Gott saying that you can’t have a complete shtamm, or that you’re a bad provider, Joshua. Don’t think of it like that.”
“Then why do these things seem to happen to my shtamm?” Joshua asked.
“I don’t know,” Mary said. “But stay strong and trust Gott. In the end, Gott loves us more than we love ourselves, and He will prove Himself faithful.”
Mary stood up and hugged Joshua tightly. “And let us help you. If you need anything, you just tell us, okay?”
“I will,” Joshua said. “Danke, Mary.” He walked with her to the doors of the workshop
and waved as she walked out past the gate and down their road to the main street beyond.
Gott, danke for my shveshtah, Joshua prayed. I ask that You would make yourself known to us. To me. And please watch over my shtamm. Please watch over Samantha and the bobli. And help me to trust You.
* * *
Chapter 3
Samantha was in awe at how everyone in the community helped them out. After their discussion, Joshua and Samantha had been prepared to spend their emergency fund on necessities and to start the repayment plan with the hospital as a goodwill gesture that they intended to pay the full amount at a later point. But with how much their family and friends supported them, Samantha realized halfway through Joshua’s recovery that they hadn’t even touched their emergency fund except for a few small things and for the repayment.
And all the food! Samantha couldn’t get over how much food they were g
iven, and how delicious it was.“At this rate, I’ll never lose my ‘baby fat,’” Samantha said to Joshua as they finished up lunch, which was a chicken pot pie brought over by Samantha’s parents.
Joshua chuckled. “Well, I better get back to the shop and see if I can get the piece sanded,” Joshua said.
It hadn’t taken long for Joshua to attempt to work, and as much as Samantha wished he’d rest, she didn’t want to stop Joshua from trying. His demeanor had immediately improved when he’d realized that as long as he sat and only used his right hand, he was still able to get some work done. Sanding was one of those things that he could do on large pieces, as long as he clamped the wood down. Joshua kissed Samantha on the forehead and walked out of the house.
Samantha maneuvered to the kitchen with the dishes, setting them in the wash basin for later, Melissa tagging along.
“Can we practice sewing again?” Melissa asked. “I want to make a quilt!”
Samantha smiled. “Sure thing. I’ll get you started, and then I need to get a few other chores done. But once I’m finished I can sit with you.”
Melissa happily plopped onto the couch, gathering her sewing materials together and Samantha went over to help her begin her next practice piece.
Once she was sure the young girl had a good start, Samantha gathered up towels she’d folded that morning and headed up the stairs. She panted at the top, trying not to feel frustrated at how difficult it was.
It’s just for a little while longer, Samantha thought. And it just means the bobli’s growing nice and strong.
Setting the towels into the linen closet and taking a breath, Samantha turned and stepped out with her foot to start her way back down the stairs.
A wave of dizziness struck Samantha. Her vision spun and went black, and the next thing she saw was the stairs coming up to her face. Wrapping her arms around her belly, she cringed as she toppled down the stairs. A painful cramping spread throughout her midsection, and she groaned when she hit the floor.
AMISH ROMANCE: Amish Dreams Box Set: Books 1-3 Page 8
